Franklin County Moonshine
Jean Shepard · The Melody Ranch Girl [Bear Family (Germany)] [1996]
Franklin County moonshine is all you care about
You've got those orders comin' in and moonshine goin' out
If a revenue man ever hears about this boy you won't have a prayer
The Franklin County moonshine's put the grey in my black hair.
Do you remember long ago what you promised me
You said if I would marry you how happy we would be
It worked out for a little while but then you made a dill
You said I'd watch the cookstove and you would watch the still.
I never will forget the day you've brought the news to me
I'm a goin' into business honey baby yes siree
You think that mountain dew has put you in society
But you and all that moonshine's made a total wreck of me.
Franklin County moonshine is all you care about
You've got those orders comin' in and moonshine goin' out
If a revenue man ever hears about this boy you won't have a prayer
The Franklin County moonshine's put the grey in my black hair.
Now I like Franklin County but something's gotta change
Playing games with old John Wall is a way out of my range
All you do is shoot the bull and temper that old still
I'm a gonna put my foot down cause I have had my fill.
I tried my best to make you see that you are doing wrong
But you just stand and grin at me and make that juice roll strong
I climb me some big mountain and make the rafters ring
Cause revenue men'll come running when I began to sing.
Franklin County moonshine is all you care about
You've got those orders comin' in and moonshine goin' out
If a revenue man ever hears about this boy you won't have a prayer
The Franklin County moonshine's put the grey in my black hair.
Moonshine, moonshine --- yodel ---
Moonshine, moonshine --- yodel ---
Moonshine, moonshine --- yodel ---
About Franklin County Moonshine
Jean Shepard's "Franklin County Moonshine" stands as a quintessential example of her distinctive country-pop fusion, blending traditional folk instrumentation with a polished, upbeat production style characteristic of her 1960s recordings. Released on the album *The Melody Ranch Girl*, the track exemplifies Shepard's ability to craft catchy melodies that bridge the gap between rural storytelling and mainstream appeal. Her work during this era, including hits like "My Mama Didn't Raise No Fools" and "Someone's Gotta Cry," established her reputation as a songwriter and performer who could deliver both emotional depth and rhythmic drive. The song reflects the broader trend of the time where female country artists were gaining significant traction, using accessible pop structures to explore themes of everyday life and romance. Shepard's discography from this period remains a valuable resource for understanding the evolution of country music in the late 1960s and early 1970s.